History of sport Books

Book SynopsisSomewhere in a German forest 200 years ago, during the darkest, wettest summer for centuries, the story of cycling began. The calls to ban it were more or less immediate.Re:Cyclists is the tale of the following two centuries. It tells how cycling became a kinky vaudeville act for Parisians, how it was the basis of an American business empire to rival Henry Ford''s, and how it found a unique home in the British Isles. The Victorian love of cycling started with penny-farthing riders, who explored lonely roads that had been left abandoned by the coming of the railways. Then high-society took to it--in the 1980s the glittering parties of the London Season featured bicycles dancing in the ballroom, and every member of the House of Lords rode a bike. Twentieth-century cycling was very different, and even more popular. It became the sport and the pastime of millions of ordinary people who wanted to escape the city smog, or to experience the excitement of a Trade ReviewAs witty, accurate and eloquently written a history of the bicycle as you are ever likely to read -- Chris BoardmanAn essential look at how cycling has taken over the world -- Sir Chris HoyAs if Bill Bryson had taken to two wheels * FT *A thorough and fascinating read, as you would expect from Dr Hutch. It charts the strange evolution of what we now unthinkingly accept: cycling is cool. How it came to be is another story altogether. -- Ned BoultingAn excellent history of the two-wheeled machine … Hutchinson plots his way through the physical, social and sporting history of cycling with immense pleasure, pace and humour. * Daily Express *Michael Hutchinson will already be known to many for his entertaining and humorous writing, and this book carries on in the same vein * road.cc *Michael Hutchinson has written a funny book about what could be – and often is – dry-as-sticks: the history of the bicycle. * bikebiz.com *Re:Cyclists is an enjoyable romp through Britain's cycling history ... If you want to know how the British got from the hobby-horse to hipsters on fixies, this is as good a place as any to start finding the answers. * Podiumcafe *Whether you’re a city boy banker racing into the Square Mile or a hipster wheeling around Shoreditch, this is for you. * Gentleman’s Journal *An historical and fascinating account of the last 200 years of the progression of cycling … A well-written and intelligent read. * Outdoor Fitness *Table of ContentsIntroduction: A Man Walks into a Bar 1 1817: The Big Bang 2 The 1860s: Parisian Perversions and the World's First Bicycle Race 3 The Dignity of the Victorian Clubmen 4 1870 – 1900: American Cycling and the Genius of Colonel Albert Pope 5 1874: The Honourable Ion Keith-Falconer 6 Safety Bicycles and Extreme Danger: Mile-a-Minute Murphy and the Lion's Den 7 The 1890s: The Great Society Cycling Craze 8 Twentieth-Century Racing and the Loneliness of the Time Triallists 9 1900 – 1920: Cycling and Moting 10 1920 – 1958: The Tourists 11 1942 – 1959: The British League of Racing Cyclists 12 1957: 'Most of Our People Have Never Had it so Good' 13 1960 – 1990: An Ugley Situation 14 1992 – 2016: The Life of Lottery 15 Towards a Cycling Tomorrow Endnotes Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisThese days, swimming may seem like the most egalitarian of pastimes, open to anyone with a swimsuit--but this wasn''t always the case. In the 19th century, swimming was exclusively the domain of men, and access to pools was a luxury limited by class. Women were (barely) allowed to swim in the sea, as long as no men were around, but even into the 20th century they could be arrested and fined if they dared dive into a lake. It wasn''t until the 1930s that women were finally, and reluctantly, granted equal access to the water. This is the story of the women who made that possible, a thank-you to the fearless swimming suffragettes who took on the status quo, fought for equal access, and won. Part social history, part memoir, Swell celebrates some amazing achievements, some ridiculous outfits, and some fantastic swimmers who challenge the stereotypes of what women are capable of. It''s also the story of how Jenny Landreth eventually came to be a keen swimmer herself. <Trade Reviewblissful ... an instructive history of a tide not simply turning, but being forced to turn * The Times *Jenny Landreth’s tale of the swimming suffragettes is a wonderful account of lost stories from the canon of women’s sports history… Landreth’s book brings these stories to the mainstream -- Anna KesselFascinating and full of possibility, it is also properly snort-with-giggles-on-the-commute funny. * Alexandra Heminsley *If you love swimming you’ll love this. If you hate swimming, you’ll still love this. * Jo Brand *A brilliantly funny book that made me feel part of a proud and intrepid community of amphibian women * Josie Long *If this marvellous watery odyssey charting women’s swimming history doesn’t make you want to jump in, I will eat my woollen bikini. * Doon Mackichan *A wry and inspiring mix of memoir and social history * Melissa Harrison *Very disappointed. I thought this was going to be a pictorial history of the bikini. * John O'Farrell *This book will delight you. * Daily Mail *Swell has the air of one long stand-up routine, a larky dash through the modern history of female swimmers * New Statesman *A clever, intimate history of personal and female liberation, viewed through a well-fitting pair of swimming goggles... * Kinamara.com *Curl up with the empowering story of the heroines who made swimming possible for women. ... a must-read * Women's Fitness *A lighthearted, conversational history, with emphasis on the challenges women once faced just getting in the water, and the “swimming suffragettes” who defied genteel disapproval to claim the right to do so * Guardian *Swell interweaves Landreth’s own story with a history of female pioneers, “Swimming Suffragettes” who accomplished remarkable feats and paved the way for future generations. * Economist *With examples of swimming heroines and some truly bizarre swimming cossies plus the story of how the author learned to swim, Swell will make you want to plunge straight in * Red *Jenny Landreth is a wonderful and hilarious writer, so this is in no way a stuffy account of historic events. She includes her own history of swimming, the 2012 Olympics, the developments in swimwear and, in her own unique way, the psychology behind why we swim * Wanderlust *Accessible and down to earth, with wonderful asides * The Times Literary Supplement *Swell is a joyous, noisy, drum-beating celebration of swimming and womanhood. -- Charlie Connelly * The New European *Thoroughly researched and informative, full of strong opinion and sound judgement [with] spiky, mischievous writing that knits it all together * Sunday Times *Swell is a wryly funny and seriously inspiring history of women and swimming... she had me at 'waterbiography' -- Lauren Bravo * The Pool *Witty and illuminating book. * Daily Telegraph *It’s a pleasure to be immersed in this educative, entertaining 'waterbiography'. * The Observer *A celebration of liberation, and an essential read for any serious swimmer. * BBC Countryfile magazine *you will never read a better explanation of why women swim (and dare I say it, perhaps men too). * Swimming Times *Landreth guides us through the history of the fabulous swimming pioneers and what she calls the swimming suffragettes, women who smashed prejudice and enable us all to swim freely today. * Guardian Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 My Waterbiograhy (Part 1) 2 The Great Outdoors 3 Going Indoors 4 Exceptional Woman (Part 1) 5 The Clubbable Woman 6 My Waterbiography (Part II) 7 Women of the World 8 In Praise of Lidos 9 We Are What We Wear 10 Olympic Flames 11 My Waterbiography (Part III) 12 The Channel 13 My Waterbiography (Part IV) 14 Exceptional Woman (Part II) 15 Why Do Women Swim? 16 My Waterbiography (Part V) Bibliography Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisAn entertaining and effervescent history of the English Premier League told through the words and quotations of its players, managers, their contemporaries and the media.Relive the highs and lows, the drama and fun of 25 years of the Premier League through this exceptional compilation, which brings together the very best quotes, comments and soundbites to tell the story of each incident-packed season.Remember Kevin Keegan's on-air meltdown? Or Paolo Di Canio's shove? How about those jaw-on-the-floor goals like Tony Yeboah's volley or Sergio Agüero's last gasp title-winning goal for Manchester City? And what about some of those teams that set the competition alight like swash-buckling Newcastle, all-conquering Manchester United and Arsenal's fabled Invincibles'? All the Premier League's sensational stories, extraordinary incidents and dazzling moments are told here through the voices, views and reflections of the managers and players involved.You Can't Win Anything With Kids<Trade ReviewIt’s been 25 years since the Premier League began and it’s a competition that never ceases to amaze me… Long it may last. Enjoy the book. * Gary Neville *Genuinely a little bit different * TalkSPORT *...crammed with great quotes as it charts the Premier League from its start to Chelsea’s 2017 crown. * Sunday Mirror *Table of ContentsForeword by Manchester United legend and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville Introduction Every English Premier League title race (1992/93 – 2016/17)

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Book Synopsis'This could be the first existential book about cricket I've ever read. It's certainly the most ambitious, and by turns the most beautiful...It's both sweeping and meticulous all at once....I can only say, truly, that my connection to the game feels deeper for having read it.' All Out CricketTrade ReviewThe extended piece on the pressures of Ashes series on captains is beautifully painted....I think every aspiring young England cricketer should read this....not as something to be afraid of, but to enlighten and prepare for the challenges that may come his way * Andy Flower *When I see the quality of writing by people like Scyld Berry...I feel daunted. I can never write as well as they can. * Rahul Dravid *Cricket's rich and varied tapestry, revealing character and national characteristics is passed on here by a man who has always been passionately interested in both. -- Mike AthertonThe game of cricket manages to invade the minds of all that are passionate about it on so many levels - it's combination of tradition, innovation, rivalry and friendship makes it truly unique. Scyld manages to encapsulate everything that is great about cricket into a fantastically entertaining book that reminds us all of how lucky we are to have involvement in the best game of all. -- Andrew StraussThis could be the first existential book about cricket I've ever read. It's certainly the most ambitious, and by turns the most beautiful...It's both sweeping and meticulous all at once....I can only say, truly, that my connection to the game feels deeper for having read it. It's a book that dares to concern itself with the 'why' question that lies behind everything. I feel like I understand a little more about why this enduringly magical, absurdly incongruous, infinitely renewable curio continues to take hold of us, and can offer no greater praise than that. -- Phil Walker * All Out Cricket *Perhaps more than any other sport, cricket has inspired outstanding writing. As Scyld Berry reveals in his new book, Cricket: The Game of Life, around 20,000 books or pamphlets have been produced in English on cricket over the years, a record. Now Mr Berry, a former editor of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack and the cricket correspondent of the Sunday Telegraph, has written a worthy addition to this rich lineage. The book may be eclectic, but it is also rewarding' * The Economist *...400 page love letter to the sport, weaving in his own memories with tales from around the world. * Sport *Scyld Berry is a rarity: among cricket correspondents of what were once styled the broadsheets, he is a scribe with almost no playing pedigree...few can challenge the breadth of his knowledge and understanding, or his love, of this most subtle of all sports. Throw in the author's rich cultural awareness and command of the English language and the result is a very good cricket book, one I am happy to label great...Seldom have I read a dust jacket with a more accurate description of its book. Even more rarely have I endorsed a book so wholeheartedly. * Association of Cricket Historians *Scyld Berry's paean to the game from its early days to now is an intensely personal work from one of cricket journalism's most original thinkers, mixing serious historical research with the reveries and theories that have sustained him over a lifetime. A work of love. * ESPNCricinfo *

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Book Synopsis ''Simply magnificent.'' Mail on Sunday A massive audience in sitting-rooms, parks and pubs watched England in the 2018 World Cup. Yet as Duncan Hamilton demonstrates with style, insight and wit in Going to the Match, watching on TV is no substitute for being there. Hamilton embarks on a richly entertaining, exquisitely crafted journey through football. Glory game or grass roots, England v Slovenia or Guiseley v Hartlepool, he delves beneath the action to illuminate the stories which make the sport endlessly compelling. Along the way he marvels at present-day titans Harry Kane, Mo Salah, Kevin De Bruyne and Paul Pogba, reflects on sepia-tinted magicians Stanley Matthews, Jimmy Greaves, Bobby Charlton and Pele, and assesses managerial giants from Brian Clough and Jose Mourinho to Arsene Wenger and Gareth Southgate. The odyssey takes Hamilton from Fleetwood to Berlin, via Glasgow and a Manchester derby, making detours into art, cTrade ReviewHamilton is steeped in the history and traditions of football and communicates his knowledge lightly and with wit and intelligence. Above all, though, this is a fan's-eye view that brilliantly expresses the passion that millions like him, in pursuit of happiness and belonging, feel for the beautiful game. Simply magnificent. * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for Cricket Book of the Year at the British Sports Book AwardsGraeme Swann leads us on a compelling adventure through one of world sport''s most engrossing rivalries. He knows as much as anybody about the heat of England v Australia battles, having played in three series wins and also the whitewash defeat of 2013-14 when its intensity ended his international career. However, it brought out some of his best displays in Test cricket. But he is just one of dozens of colourful characters to have added their chapters to this great tome. The mock obituary of English cricket in the Sporting Times of 1882 was the forerunner of summers and winters of heaven and hell, depending on which side of the divide you were situated. When it comes to on-field relations nothing quite compares to the over-my-dead-body feel of the Ashes.From Grace to Sir Don, the most graceful of them all. From the foulest play to the fairest - contrast the 1932-33 Bodylin

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Book Synopsis''Eye-opening and inspirational . . . An utterly fascinating and gloriously fiery read'' FELICITY CLOAKE''A barnstorming book'' GUARDIAN''Fascinating . . . full of inspirational tales'' OBSERVERSimone de Beauvoir borrowed her lover''s bike to cycle around Paris in the 1940s, instantly falling in love with the freedom it gave her (even when an accident caused her to lose a tooth). Alice Hawkins, a factory worker from Leicester, pedal-powered her fight for universal suffrage as the bicycle became a cornerstone of her work to recruit women to the cause. Zahra Naarin Hussano challenged religious and cultural taboos in Afghanistan to ride a bike and teach others to do the same. As a twenty-four-year-old Latvian immigrant living in Boston, in 1894 Annie ''Londonderry'' Kopchovsky became the first woman to cycle around the world. She took up the challenge, despite never having ridden a bike before, after two men bet a woman couldn''t do it. Many of thesTrade ReviewA male cyclist is just a bloke on a bike, but a woman appears political, independent, a bluestocking, egregiously sporty or suspiciously saucy . . . [a] likeable, informative and barnstorming book * GUARDIAN *Hannah Ross's fascinating history of women cycling their way to freedom is more a social history than a sporting one, full of inspirational tales of women getting on their bikes and transforming attitudes, gender structures and human rights . . . Revolutions is a rich story of empowerment, adventure and the sheer exhilaration of riding a bicycle * OBSERVER *A heart-soaring tribute to the trailblazers who seized upon a chance to break convention and pedal their way to newfound freedom. The myriad stories are awe-inspiring . . . REVOLUTIONS is a rallying cry * HERALD SCOTLAND *Eye-opening and inspirational, REVOLUTIONS made me want to jump straight on my very own 'freedom machine' and go out for a ride. An utterly fascinating, and gloriously fiery read -- FELICITY CLOAKEEngaging * The i *A high cadence spin through the history of female cycling that is comprehensive despite its concision * Guardian, Books of the Year *This is a fantastic book -- MAXINE PEAKEOne of the most comprehensive cycling books we've read * CYCLIST, 13 Best Books About Cycling *A celebration of the women who fought against the patriarchy to claim that most versatile of vehicles, the bicycle, for themselves. From Simone de Beauvoir's two-wheeled adventures in Paris to the extraordinary Annie 'Londonderry' Kopchovsky who in 1894 set out to circumnavigate the world on a bike these are remarkable stories, wonderfully told * THE NEW EUROPEAN *Meticulously researched 130 year history of women awheel. A huge and wide ranging story but written with such skill and lightness of touch that it's a pure pleasure to read -- JACK THURSTON, author of LOST LANES

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Book SynopsisAn authoritative 100-year-history of America's National Football League from its founding in 1920

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Book Synopsis Hoyt Wilhelm''s intriguing baseball career lasted two decades. A veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, the eight-time All-Star from Huntersville, North Carolina, was a standout for the New York Giants, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox and Atlanta Braves, though he did not reach the majors until he was nearly 30. He pitched a no-hitter as a starter, won as many as 15 games a season, was the first reliever to win more than 100 games and save more than 200, and broke Cy Young''s record for most games on the mound. Along the way, he relied almost entirely on his baffling skill with a rare weapon of choice--the knuckleball. This first full-length biography covers the life and career of the first relief pitcher in the Hall of Fame.Table of Contents Table of Contents Preface Introduction  1. A North Carolina Guy  2. From North Carolina to North Carolina  3. War  4. Starting Over  5. Minneapolis: Make It or Break It  6. The Majors at Last  7. A Hot Commodity  8. The World Series  9. Entrenched with New York 10. On to Other Teams 11. Lightning Strikes 12. Rebirth with Orioles 13. Trying to Make Sense of It 14. Out of Control 15. Hanging Tough with the Orioles 16. Good Company 17. Wilbur and Hoyt 18. White Sox and Still Going 19. A Thousand Games 20. Running Out of Teams 21. A Call from the Hall Epilogue Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisFor most of the twentieth century, the Mr. America image epitomized muscular manhood. From humble beginnings in 1939 at a small gym in Schenectady, New York, the Mr. America Contest became the world’s premier bodybuilding event over the next thirty years. Rooted in ancient Greek virtues of health, fitness, beauty, and athleticism, it showcased some of the finest specimens of American masculinity. Interviewing nearly one hundred major figures in the physical culture movement (including twenty-five Mr. Americas) and incorporating copious printed and manuscript sources, John D. Fair has created the definitive study of this iconic phenomenon.Revealing the ways in which the contest provided a model of functional and fit manhood, Mr. America captures the event’s path to idealism and its slow descent into obscurity. As the 1960s marked a turbulent transition in American societyfrom the civil rights movement to the rise of feminism and increasing acceptance of homosexuaTrade ReviewFair’s book is deftly written and superbly researched. I have little doubt that this volume will remain one of the best sources for both the story of American bodybuilding and the “tragic history” of its most famous contest. * Journal of Sport History *Table of Contents Preface Introduction Part 1: Precedents 1. The Greek Ideal 2. The Athletic Body Part 2: The Golden Age 3. The First Mr. America Contests 4. The Glory Years 5. Multiple Mr. Americas 6. Winds of Change Part 3: Decline and Fall 7. The Arnold Era 8. The Sprague Revolution 9. Professionalizing Amateurism 10. Eclipse of an Icon Epilogue and Conclusion Appendix: Mr./Ms. America Titlists Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisBorn on the Links encompasses the entire 600-year history of golf, from the links in Scotland in the fifteenth century up to the present. It not only covers golf’s origins and the development of the rules, equipment, and playing fields, but also features accounts of its greatest players and historic events.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: The Origins of Golf in Scotland Chapter 2: The Evolution of Golf During the 17th and 18th Centuries Chapter 3: The Proliferation of Golf During the 19th Century Chapter 4: Golf Comes to America: The First Clubs and Courses Chapter 5: Golf Takes Root in the United States Chapter 6: The Explosion of Golf in the United States After 1913 Chapter 7: Golf during the Depression and War Years Chapter 8: The Revival of Golf After World War II Chapter 9: Let Us Play: The African-American Experience in Golf Chapter 10: Arnold Palmer, Television, and a New Era in Golf Chapter 11: The Phenomenal Growth of Golf After 1960 Chapter 12: Golf in the Twenty-First Century Chapter 13: The Story of Women’s Golf in the United States Chapter 14: The Major Team Competitions Appendix I: A Timeline of Golf History Appendix II: Winners of Major Professional and Amateur Golf Championships Appendix III: Winners of Major Team and Cup Competitions Appendix IV: Number of Wins in Professional Golf Events through 2017 NotesBibliography IndexAbout the Author

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Book SynopsisThe San Francisco 49ers have one of the best records in NFL history, with 20 division championships, seven conference championships, and five Super Bowl championships. On a team with outstanding talent each year, who among its past and present players could be ranked among the 50 greatest? Who would occupy the coveted #1 spot? Jerry Rice? Ronnie Lott? Joe Montana? Chales Haley? Robert Cohen, has his own take on the matter and in a book that is bound to inspire conversation if not controversy, ranks what he believes are the greatest players from 1-50, with a few honorble mentions.

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Book SynopsisJust as George Plimpton had his proverbial cup of coffee in the NFL as the un-recruited and certainly unwanted fourth-string quarterback for the Detroit Lions, so, too, did Will McGough immerse himself in a sport he had no business trying. Like Plimpton, whose football folly turned into the bestselling Paper Lion, travel and outdoor writer McGough writes of his participation in, around, and over the course of one of the world''s premier triathlons, the annual 140.6-mile Ironman in Tempe, Arizona. McGough chronicles the Ironman's history, his unorthodox training, the pageantry of the race weekend, and his attempt to finish the epic event. The narrative follows not just his race but also explores the cult and habits of the triathlete community, beginning with the first Ironman competition in Hawaii in 1978. This is a light-hearted, self-deprecating, and at times hilarious look at one man''s attempt to conquer the ultimate endurance sport, with a conclusion that will surprise and delight Trade Review“McGough’s writing shines with his self-deprecating humor and easygoing curiosity.”“The story of this impossible adventure is captivatingWhile he is sometimes reluctant, more often his voice brims with gung-ho, foolhardy, youthful bravado, plus generous doses of self-deprecation. McGough’s humor shines throughout, but most in his unselfconscious presentation of the physical toll that the race takes, including the difficulty of pee breaks when certain extremities have gone numb and the dreaded chafing of, well, everything.” -- Foreword Reviews"The book is absolutely hysterical…This is a great book for a newbie triathlete and an experienced Ironman would love it as well because it’s raw, truthful, insightful and humorous all in one package." -- A Triathlete's Diary"[Swim Bike Bonk digs] into the psyche of those who are beyond passionate to the point of obsession with pursuit of the achievement that is the mother of all endurance events." -- Outspoken Cyclist“Swim, Bike, Bonk: Confessions of a Reluctant Triathlete is not only an entertaining account more than worthy to accompany you on your next trip, it’s a great read for dedicated and first-time triathletes, or even competitive athletes in general. While I’ve never attempted a triathlon (and never intend to), I have raced competitively in a variety of sports and found myself groaning and cheering along with McGough." -- Practical Travel Gear"A travel writer by trade, McGough approaches the Ironman like he would a new country—with curiosity, humor, and, ultimately, astonishment." -- Bruce Northam, American Detour

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Book Synopsis'The definitive back story of Mount Everest' Stewart Weaver, co-author of Fallen Giants 'Craig Storti has given us the Everest book that we've needed all along' Scott Ellsworth, author of The World Beneath Their FeetThe seventy-one-year quest to find the world's highest mountain.The Hunt for Mount Everest is the seldom-told story of how the last remaining major prize in the history of exploration was identified, named and at last found. This is Everest, the prequel: a high-drama tale, filled with larger-than-life characters and quiet heroes, traverses the Alps, the Himalayas, Nepal and Tibet, the British Empire, the Anglo-Russian rivalry known as The Great Game, the disastrous First Afghan War, and the phenomenal Survey of India. Encountering spies, war, political intrigues, and hundreds of mules, camels, bullocks, yaks, and two zebrules, this account uncovers the fascinating saga leading up to the fateful day in late June of 1921, when two English climbers, George Mallory and Guy Bullock, became the first westerners - and almost certainly the first human beings - to set foot on Mount Everest.Trade ReviewTense and detailed ... A lively and useful addition to the shelves of Everestiana -- John KeayA rich and fascinating book that tells the story of Everest in glimpses from unexpected angles, revealing one face then another, discovering surprising new routes through well-trodden terrain. Getting to the top isn't the point - the point is the mountain itself -- Nick HuntA very readable and entertaining account of the earliest days of Everest, with a cast of great characters and driving narrative which reaches a terrific climax in 1921 -- Mick ConefreyA compelling account of the essential back story to the epic 20th century attempt by British mountaineering expeditions to ascend the world's highest mountain ... This is great mountaineering history -- Maurice Isserman * co-author of Fallen Giants *To climb the world's highest mountain was one thing; to find it quite another. In this compelling new contribution to the cultural history of mountaineering, Storti composes the definitive back story of Mount Everest -- Stewart Weaver * co-author of Fallen Giants *Craig Storti has given us the Everest book that we've needed all along ... The Hunt for Mount Everest is the necessary, and admirably written, historical prelude to the great age of Himalayan mountaineering -- Scott EllsworthAn entertaining and enlightening account of how the British identified the highest mountain, ensured that it was their preserve, and made the first attempt to climb it. -- Peter Gillman

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Book Synopsis'Is there anything in sport to compare with the sustained excitement of a cricket match, especially a Test match, in which the advantage continually fluctuates one way and then the other, and when the match enters its last few minutes, all four results are still possible?'After entertaining countless radio listeners around the world for decades, who better to convey the breathless drama of a Test match cliffhanger than Henry Blofeld? Now, in Ten to Win . . . and the Last Man In, he has personally selected thirty matches featuring unforgettable finishes and brought them vividly to life again in his own inimitable way.Ranging from the match-winning bowling of F.R. Spofforth against W.G. Grace's England in 1882, via the first tied Test between Benaud's Australia and Worrell's West Indies in 1960, to the never-say-die batting of Ben Stokes in 2019, he picks out the key events and performances of each memorable match and describes them as only he can.Alongside the big-hitting heroics of Jessop in 1902 and Botham in 1981, he revisits less celebrated matches such as South Africa's hard-fought first Test win in 1906, as well as a crucial innings from Denis Compton in 1948 and a match-saving performance by a young Alan Knott in Guyana in 1968 - one of the most exciting matches he has ever witnessed first-hand.Filled with colourful detail and informed by insight gained from a lifetime immersed in the sport he loves, Henry Blofeld's latest book will leave the reader in no doubt - as he himself puts it - about 'what an absurdly irresistible game cricket can be'.Trade ReviewThis will be a hot item for the cricket lover this Christmas and deservedly so * Cricket Web *

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Book SynopsisDid you know . . . Tom Brady is a very good quarterback. (True, but only according to statistics and accomplishments.) The formation of the NFL took place in an auto dealership. The founders started an institution and also were convinced to buy rust-proofing for it. (Half true.) The Carolina Panthers originated as a book club but turned to football when they couldn’t agree on which John Grisham novel to read. (Maybe true. Research isn’t our thing.) The Occasionally Accurate Annals of Football is a love letter to America’s favorite game, full of highlights, history, great plays and players, scandals, Super Bowls, and a series of lies, idiotic theories, baseless conspiracies, a diet that may kill you and, of course, a poorly-written haiku. The book takes the credibility Dan Patrick has built up over a stellar broadcast career (ESPN, NBC Sports, something called “Peacock”) and risks it all with these falsehoods, half-truths, and even some quarter-truths. This parade of inanity is co-written by Joel H. Cohen (3 Emmys, several cavities due to poor flossing) and includes contributions from certifiably hilarious people, such as: Andy Richter (Late Night with Conan O’Brien), Brian Kelley (The Simpsons, Saturday Night Live), Chuck Tatham (Modern Family, Arrested Development, How I Met Your Mother), Mike Price (The Simpsons, F is for Family), Donick Cary (Silicon Valley, New Girl), Christine Nangle (Inside Amy Schumer, Saturday Night Live), Broti Gupta (The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Simpsons) and Rob Cohen (Saturday Night Live, Big Bang Theory).

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Book SynopsisFor over one hundred years the Challenge Cup has been ïlled with moments of high drama, compelling action and superb skill. This book gives the full story of the Cup with details of the early rounds and a full description of every Final since the â??Gallant Youthsâ?? of Batley won the very ïrst trophy in 1897. Complemented by a range of superb photographs, many of which have never previously been published, the book is the complete guide to over a century of the Rugby League Challenge Cup competition. "

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Book SynopsisEvery runner's story is part of a great tradition of running stories. Running Throughout Time tells the best and most important of them. From Atalanta, the heroic woman runner of ancient Greece-when goddesses advised on race tactics-to the new legends of Billy Mills, Joan Benoit Samuelson, and Allison Roe (the modern Atalanta), this book brings the greatest runners back to life. It's the perfect runner's bedside storybook. Colorful, dramatic, alive with human insight and period detail, these stories are also full of new discoveries. Within these pages, readers will find the true story of Pheidippides and the Battle of Marathon; they will read text from the world's first newspaper report of a footrace (1719). The book uncovers important evidence of the first road races, the origins of cross-country running, and the earliest marathons, telling the true story of the origins of the marathon and just why racers must run exactly 26 miles, 385 yards (42.2 km). Further, it tells more modern stories, like those of women's marathon activist, Kathrine Switzer. Roger Robinson is a vivid storyteller and a lifelong elite runner who knows the sport deeply and passionately, yet he is also a meticulous scholar who digs and digs until he gets the story right. He shares his findings here, such as those from his investigation of the tragedy during the 1928 Olympics when most of the women running the 800 meters collapsed in distress. Roger has been everywhere in running: elite runner, masters champion, stadium announcer, TV commentator, researcher, and journalist. The stories in this book are selected because each is significant in the greater story of running and because Roger can bring something new and exciting to their telling. From variant translations of ancient poems, dusty stacks of old newspapers, crackly handwritten notebooks, and carefully studied film footage, Roger has done every kind of homework to get these unforgettable stories right. All runners should read this book to really know whose footsteps they run in and why running is worthy of the effort they give to it.

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Book SynopsisWorld in Union is the story of the Rugby World Cup told via its fifteen most important and dramatic matches. From the inauspicious beginnings of the 1987 tournament, which nearly didn't happen due to back-room politics, and the amateur era's aversion to commercialism, the Rugby World Cup has grown into the third largest sporting event in the world, behind only the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics. World in Union looks at the greatest games and the biggest controversies played out on the Rugby World Cup stage with each chapter focusing on a different game. Western Samoa breaking Welsh hearts, the emergence of Jonah Lomu, Nelson Mandela and Francois Pienaar uniting the Rainbow Nation, Wilkinson's drop for World Cup glory, France's habit of spoiling the All Blacks' party, Sam Warburton's controversial sending off and Japan's greatest moment-all this and more is covered in this enjoyable narrative for all rugby fans.

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Book SynopsisIn 1914 one of Britain's most famous sportsmen went off to play his part in the First World War. Like millions of others, he would die. Unlike millions of others, nobody knew how or where. Until now. Lost in France is the true story of Leigh Roose: playboy, scholar, soldier and the finest goalkeeper of his generation. It's also the tale of how one man became caught up in a global catastrophe - one that would cost him his life, his identity and his rightful place as one of football's all-time legends. Lost In France is the biography of goalkeeper Leigh Roose, football's first genuine superstar, a man so good at his position on the field of play that the Football Association made one of the most significant rule changes in the game's history just to keep him in check. Small wonder that when the Daily Mail put together a World XI to take on another planet, Leigh's was the first name on its team sheet.

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Book SynopsisA true story of intrigue, mystery, blackmail and skulduggery, which tells how one man was able to bring down an English Football League club. In 1919, Leeds City player Charlie Copeland returned from active service and made a request for a pay rise, which the club steadfastly refused. During the war, guest players for League clubs were supposed to have gone unpaid for their services, though in general this FA law was overlooked as a nod to the war effort. Copeland, however, issued the club with an ultimatum: either meet his wage demand or answer to the FA for making illegal payments. When Copeland carried out his threat and City proved reluctant to produce their books for FA inspection, a complex web of deceit and hypocrisy ensued. Subsequently, Leeds City were disbanded and expelled from the Football League, the only club before or since to receive such harsh punishment. However, out of the ashes of this fallen institution emerged another, brand new club - Leeds United.

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Book SynopsisFew fans are aware of the long, vibrant history of soccer in the USA, which dates back as far as the American Civil War. Many wrongly believe that the introduction of the North American Soccer League in the 60s brought about American soccer's debut, while in fact its first golden age came during the Roaring 20s and the first FIFA World Cup in 1930. The NASL did have a huge impact on the popularity of the game, but the instability of the league and its reliance on ageing superstars meant its heyday was over by the mid-80s. This left the door wide open for a third golden age, starting with the introduction of the incredibly successful USWNT, World Cup 1994 and MLS. Having grown for more than 25 years, played and supported by both sexes, soccer is now seen as a viable sport in a country dominated by baseball, basketball and American football. Stateside Soccer shines new light on the rich history of a sport still too often mistaken as a relatively recent import to the United States.

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Book SynopsisOn a balmy July evening in 1972, to the sound of The Dubliners, Muhammad Ali climbed through the ropes to fight Al ? Blue? Lewis at Croke Park. The most famous athlete in the world had somehow been inveigled to Ireland by Butty Sugrue, a charismatic entrepreneur who was ridiculed for trying to do the impossible right up to the moment Ali and his entourage touched down at Dublin Airport. And so began a week of the most glorious mayhem, as ? the Champ? charmed the Irish people.Ali could be found jogging along Wicklow lanes, strolling into The Old Stand pub, chatting with street cleaners, and paying an early morning visit to the GPO to receive a history lesson about the Easter Rising. No matter where he fetched up, wonderful chaos ensued. Traffic stopped. Crowds gathered. The greatest show on earth had come to town.Through interviews with dozens of those Ali met and worked with over the course of those seven unforgettable days, Dave Hannigan has pieced together an enthralling narrative of one of the most unique events in Irish sporting history.

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Book Synopsis** WINNER OF THE CYCLING BOOK OF THE YEAR AT THE 2019 TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS**So how do you win a bike race?Riding as fast as you could for as long as you could was the main tactic in the early days of road racing when Grand Tours could be won by hours. Now a minute’s delay thanks to a puncture could ruin a rider’s chances over a three-week race and the sport is described as nothing less than chess on wheels. The intricacies and complexities of cycling are what makes it so appealing: an eye for opportunity and a quick mind are just as crucial to success as a 'big engine' or good form. How do you cope with crosswinds, cobbles, elbows-out sprints, weaving your way through a teeming peloton? Why are steady nerves one of the best weapons in a rider’s arsenal and breakaway artists to be revered? Where do you see the finest showcase of tactical brilliance? Peter Cossins takes us on to the team buses to hear pro cyclists and directeurs sportifs explain their tactics: when it went right, when they got it wrong – from sprinting to summits, from breakaways to bluffing. Hectic, thrilling, but sometimes impenetrable – watching a bike race can baffle as much as entertain. Full Gas is the essential guide to make sense of all things peloton.

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Book SynopsisWith an exclusive foreword by Usain Bolt, The Fastest Men on Earth tells the fascinating inside stories of the Olympic Men's 100m Champions. It takes just under ten seconds to run, but the results of the Olympic men's 100 metres are etched forever into history. In The Fastest Men on Earth, journalist Neil Duncanson tells the stories of the 25 athletes who've been crowned champions in the event, and earned the coveted title of 'Fastest Man on Earth'.Each chapter explores the fascinating, inspiring, and occasionally tragic lives of these supremely talented sprinters, as well as the intense drama of the record-breaking runs that wrote them into history. Immaculately researched and featuring exclusive interviews with several Olympic champions, including a new conversation with Usain Bolt, The Fastest Men on Earth brings the stories of some of the greatest athletes of all time to life like never before.Table of ContentsForeword • Introduction • Tom Burke (1896) • Frank Jarvis (1900) • Archie Hahn (1904) • Reg Walker (1908) • Ralph Craig (1912) • Charley Paddock (1920) • Harold Abrahams (1924) • Percy Williams (1928) • Eddie Tolan (1932) • Jesse Owens (1936) • Harrison Dillard (1948) • Lindy Remingo (1952) • Bobby Morrow (1956) • Armin Hary (1960) • Bob Hayes (1964) • Jim Hines (1968) • Valeriy Borzov (1972) • Hasely Crawford (1976) • Allan Wells (1980) • Carl Lewis (1984-1988) • Linford Christie (1992) • Donovan Bailey (1996) • Maurice Greene (2000) • Justin Gatlin (2004) • Usain Bolt (2008-2016) • The Future of Sprinting.

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Book SynopsisA volume celebrating the golden era of Welsh Rugby in the 1970s, full of entertaining snippets and photographs reflecting Wales'' success during a decade in which players such as Gareth Edwards, Barry John, Phil Bennett and JPR became international superstars. Fun retro Seventies annual design.

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Book SynopsisThe Undisputed Champions of Europe is a trilogy-ending homage to the golden era of the European Cup. A place where the gods of the game battled for the biggest prize in club football; a place where the likes of Di Stefano, Eusebio, Best, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Dalglish, Gullit and so many others became legends, as they skated across thin ice to glory, in the colours of clubs that are now considered European royalty. An entirely different beast than the Champions League, it was a competition where you had to win your domestic league title to gain entry. With no safety net of group stages, one bad night of football was enough to send you back to square one. In contrast to today's Champions League winners - whose status as Europe's best team is regularly disputed - the winners of the European Cup truly were the undisputed kings of Europe. These are the stories and glories of football's highest achievers.

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Book SynopsisSixty Years of the World Cup is a personal, nostalgic, fun and frank reflection on the author's six-decade association with football's biggest showpiece. Brian Barwick journeyed just five miles to his first World Cup match during the iconic 1966 tournament held in England, but later travelled the globe witnessing first-hand some of football's greatest and most controversial moments. As a major national TV sport producer and executive, he was also responsible for how the tournament was broadcast to tens of millions of viewers on the BBC and ITV. A stint as CEO of the FA brought him the unique experience of being personally associated with the triumphs and tribulations of trying to win the World Cup. During his 60-year relationship with football's greatest prize, he witnessed many of the tournament's most famous matches, most gifted players and coaches, and iconic and controversial moments, meeting colourful personalities, making programmes that broke TV audience records and even helping an operatic aria to become a worldwide smash-hit!Trade Review"Sixty Years of the World Cup is Barwick’s story of his journey through that time and is packed with fascinating tales from a man who got closer to the action than most of us will ever get the chance to experience... If you have an interest in Global Football but also want to read some great personal anecdotes on the game at the very top level, Sixty Years of the World Cup is definitely the book for you." * Read the League *

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Book SynopsisHope and Glory recreates the extraordinary era of Thatcherite Britain with the dramatic tension of a novel, revealing it as a critical moment in rugby league history when despite losing everything, anything seemed possible. Rugby league should never have survived Thatcher's Britain. As the sport of the working class, the expectation was that rugby league would suffer the same fate as the textile mills, factories and coal mines that once surrounded it. Having declined in the 1970s, the sport appeared to be at the point of no return in 1982, when the Australian team destroyed any remaining illusions of 'British exceptionalism'. But as it often does, rugby league found a way to turn itself around. From the pit villages which fought industrial decline to the players who ushered in the new professional era, the 1980s was the decade when rugby league finally came of age. By the 1990s, there was an optimism that it could even replace football as the global game for the 21st century.Trade Review"Hope and Glory perfectly captures an era of immense change, opportunity and upheaval. A must-read not only for rugby league fans but for those interested in politics, history and marketing." -- John Davidson * The i newspaper *"Across 352 absorbing pages, Anthony Broxton has deftly written a 'must have' book on the subject, contrasting Conservative fortunes (in government/in the country at large) with that of the top rugby league teams. The working man’s game, unlike the mining industry, has survived intact, and in Hope and Glory Broxton seamlessly succeeds at the coal face of the sport, despite the unemployment, strikes and a killer on the loose, The Yorkshire Ripper. Rating: 10/10." -- Mark Watkins * Dare Radio *"A timely book... Broxton is a superb and sympathetic chronicler of how this happened." -- Patrick Kidd * The Times *"Brilliant, illumintive. Hope and Glory is a literary triumph for rugby league chronicling the sport's rise in defiance of industrial decay." -- Chris Irvine * Former rugby league correspondent at The Times *"Rugby league's working class heritage is intertwined with the events of the 1970s and 1980s, from punk rock to rebellion and riots. Hope and Glory is a riveting account of how sport must change and adapt to survive in times of social upheaval." -- Steve Brady * League Express *"Fascinating...If (Labour) are looking for advice perhaps they could read this book." -- Patrick Maguire * Times Radio *"A great time for this book to come out...a generation scarred by Thatcherism living to see the glory days come back." -- Paul Mason * Author of Postcapitalism *"Gripping account of rugby league’s improbable resurgence in the face of industrial collapse in Thatcher’s Britain. A book that is not just for rugby league fans." -- Brian Groom * Author of Northerners *"Whatever sport you love, I'd recommend this book. Visionaries, villains and vaudeville all play their part in a brilliant tale, expertly told." -- Brian Carney * Sky Sports *"[An] innovative account of Thatcherism, resistance and Rugby League." * Philosophy Football *

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Book Synopsis1953 offers a unique snapshot of life in and around football during Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation year – exploring the matches, personalities and events that lit up the game. Wembley saw its most exciting FA Cup Final ever with Stanley Matthews finally lifting the trophy. The top flight witnessed its closest-ever finish, and internationally the Mighty Magyars gave England a footballing lesson, as did Uruguay and Argentina. Sheffield Wednesday’s star striker Derek Dooley tragically lost a leg, and exasperated players went on strike over the unfairness of the contract system and the maximum wage. Others travelled to Colombia in a bid to make mega-money in a FIFA-banned rebel league. Many negotiated the first-ever image rights deals and endorsed everything from football boots and Lucozade to cigarettes and paint. In a fitting tribute to the new queen, eight of England and Scotland's best teams would clash in a one-off tournament to mark the start of Elizabeth II's reign, the Coronation Cup.Trade Review"A welcome follow up to 1923… Close has produced a very interesting book, indeed. Highly recommended. Rating: 10/10." -- Mark Watkins * Dare Radio *"This book is fantastic... wonderfully told tales of the Mighty Magyars, the Matthews Final and the story of Derek Dooley." * Fussball Geekz TV *"Close does the events of the year full justice... it's to his credit that he tells an honest tale and not one that could have been so easily sugar-coated." * On Yorkshire magazine *"Marvin Close has done a fine job with this memory jogger of a time when players freely smoked before matches...and travelled on buses with the fans." * Sports Journalists Association News *"Marvin Close draws on hours of painstaking research to paint a vivid picture of football in Britain in 1953... a fascinating narrative." * Backpass magazine *

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Book SynopsisBob Bond takes us on a nostalgic journey through FA Cup history, telling the story of football's oldest competition through captivating match cartoons.For a century and a half the FA Cup's power to excite and fascinate fans the world over has never ceased. Every year we wait for the balls to fall out of the velvet bag to see where 'our team' will be travelling to, and as always, we'll be hoping and believing that this year will be 'our year'.This book recalls not only the cup finals, but some of the great matches, players, goals, upsets and infamous moments in FA Cup history. In days gone by, the match cartoon was a regular newspaper feature. But now, with instant TV coverage and endless replaying of incidents, it is a thing of the past. So, take a trip down memory lane with the history of one of the world's greatest football competitions elegantly depicted in illustrated form, from Victorian times to the present day.Trade Review"Vibrant football art brought to life… Key FA Cup ties (and Finals), since the competition began, are drawn and described in colourful fashion. A real treat for the eyes. Even my home club, Reading, are featured in a 3-3 draw with Preston North End (who first won the Cup in 1938) and I particularly love the ‘strictly’ diving David Seaman on page 239. It’s a great, fun way to bring soccer statistics to life with FA Cup magic in all the cartoons and caricatures. Rating: 9/10." -- Mark Watkins * Dare Radio *

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Book SynopsisExplore the complete history of The FA Cup in this definitive illustrated book. The FA Cup is the oldest national football competition in the world, and one of the most beloved and popular tournaments in football. In 2022, it will be 150 years since the inaugural Football Association Challenge Cup was clinched by Wanderers Football Club at Kennington Oval. Since then, 'The Cup' has become one of the premier tournaments in the sport, and an iconic mainstay of the English game.The Official History of The FA Cup, produced in partnership with The Football Association, is a lavish, illustrated tribute to this iconic competition. Filled with stunning photographs spanning the full history of the Cup, this book celebrates the most exciting, significant and memorable goals, games and upsets in English football history. Featuring insightful commentary on The FA Cup's development and evolution, details of every FA Cup-winning side, and an exclusive foreword by Arsène Wenger, this is an essential companion for anyone with a love of the competition – which is to say, fans of football everywhere.Table of ContentsForeword by Arsène Wenger • Introduction • Origins • The First Finals (1871-79) • Enter the Professionals (1880-92) • The Cup Takes Form (1893-1922) • The Cup Finds Its Home (1923-39) • Matinee Idols (1945-58) • The Rise of the Manager (1959-72) • The Age of the Upset (1973-89) • Doubles All Round (1990-2006) • The Future (2007-) • The Early Rounds; Match Officials; The Third Round; Anatomy of an Upset; Broadcasting the FA Cup; FA Cup Sponsorship; FA Cup Final Day.

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Book Synopsis‘This is a great tale, and what’s more, it’s beautifully told.’ – Simon BarnesFrom Sathasivam to Sangakkara, Murali to Malinga, Sri Lanka can lay claim to some of the world’s most remarkable cricketers – larger-than-life characters who thumbed convention and played the game their own way. This is the land of pint-sized, swashbuckling batsmen, on-the-fly innovators and contorted, cryptic spinners. More so than anywhere else in the world, Sri Lankan cricket has an identity: cricket is Sri Lanka, and Sri Lanka is cricket.We all know the story of the 1996 World Cup: how a team of unfancied amateurs rose from obscurity and changed the way the game was played. Yet the lore of Sri Lankan cricket stretches back much further, from early matches between colonists and locals, and Ashes-bound ships bringing in cricket’s biggest stars, to the more recent triumphs and tragedies that stem from cash flowing freely into the game. An Island’s Eleven tells this story in full for the first time, focusing on the characters and moments that have shaped the game forever.Trade ReviewNicholas Brookes has filled a gap in cricket literature. This wonderful book, based on compendious research, tells the great story of Sri Lankan cricket, how it began in schools and colleges and emerged to become one of the great forces in world cricket. It is more than a cricket book: it is also indispensable for understanding Sri Lanka itself. This book should be in the library of every serious cricket lover. It has been written with real passion and understanding. A great debut from a serious sports historian. -- Peter OborneThis is a great tale, and what’s more, it’s beautifully told. -- Simon Barnes

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Book SynopsisThe magnificent story of a writer’s lifelong obsession with his city and its football club. When 5-year-old Michael Chaplin landed in a strange city of ships in the late 1950s, he looked in vain for something that would anchor him to it, make him feel at home. Then, one Saturday afternoon, it came: the roar of a crowd, and a football team to support. Young Michael became an avid Newcastle United fan, and has remained one–if sometimes disenchanted–for over sixty years. In this football memoir with a difference, the celebrated playwright and screenwriter tells the story of his six-decade love affair with the club, each chapter recreating an iconic Newcastle match: the players who graced the game, the managers in the dug-out, and the backdrop outside the stadium–both the changing face of Newcastle, and the ups and downs of Michael’s own life and career. This vivid, thoughtful and entertaining book is an absolute must-read for all Newcastle United supporters, and indeed–given that the club is often described as everyone’s second favourite–for football fans everywhere…Trade Review'Newcastle United Stole My Heart is a testimony to the power of modern sport and how it reaches way beyond the playing fields. … Beautifully written.' -- The Irish Times

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Book SynopsisFor a small footballing nation, Scotland boasts a proud record of having qualified for the World Cup Finals on eight occasions. But this fantastic record is also tarred with the glorious failure of never having reached the latter stages of the tournament. Scotland '74 is a bitter-sweet celebration of the closest Scotland has ever got - so far at least - when a team of superstars managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the dying seconds. Forty years on, it still hurts. For Scotland, the World Cup Finals in West Germany in 1974 promised much. Group 2 had a talented Brazil side with Jairzinho, Rivelino and Cesar, a hard-to-pronounce Yugoslavia line-up and group minnows Zaire. But the Scotland squad boasted household names like Billy Bremner, Kenny Dalglish, Denis Law, Peter Lorimer and Joe Jordan. How could Scotland not get to the second phase of the tournament for the very first time? Well, this is the story of how, astonishingly, it just didn't happen - even though Scotland ended up as the only unbeaten team in the tournament.As history tells us, 1974 was a massive missed opportunity for Scotland, and Richard Gordon now reveals how it all went wrong in the days before the shambles of Argentina '78 and the 3-0 humbling by Morocco in 1998. Drawing on archive reports and the memories of squad members, Scotland '74 relates the story of that big adventure, encompassing a shocking start to manager Willie Ormond's reign (a 5-0 beating by England), frequent player indiscipline, and, ultimately, the on-field heartbreak that left a nation in mourning for a lost opportunity.

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Book SynopsisOver the last thirty years, the English Premier League has grown to become the richest and most popular league in football – and the Irish have been at the heart of its success since the very beginning. In exclusive interviews with thirty former and current players, and an in-depth analysis of Irish players’ involvement, Gareth Maher celebrates the astounding contribution that the Republic of Ireland has made to the most famous league in the world of sport. With insights from Seamus Coleman, John O’Shea, Niall Quinn, Shay Given, Jonathan Walters, Richard Dunne, Andrew Omobamidele and many more, Away Days uncovers the good, the bad & the ugly of a league that has been home to almost two-hundred Irish players. This is the story of Ireland’s impact on the Premier League as told through the experiences of the players who have lived through the title wins and the relegation scraps, the big-money moves and the cancelling of contracts, the villian's disdain and the hero’s acclaim over three whirlwind decades.Trade Review"An absorbing study, Away Days is a fascinating read. Just perfect for a football nut like me.” -- George Hamilton * Irish Independent *

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Book SynopsisThis 23rd edition contains the final league tables for the top tiers of the English Non-league Football pyramid - The National League from 1979-2024 plus its 3 feeder leagues, The Southern Lge, Isthmian Lge & Northern Premier Lge from inception to 2024. Also The Football Alliance 1889-1892, (which then became the 2nd Division of the Football Lge).

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Book SynopsisThe Albion Miscellany collects together all the vital information you never knew you needed to know about West Brom. In these pages you will find irresistible anecdotes and the most mindblowing stats and facts. Heard the one about the Albion star who thought there was a different, hotter sun on a pre-season trip to Portugal? How about the winger who bought a shed off a fan during a series of corners? Or the GBP2 million acquisition who turned out to be Cyrille Regis's nephew? Do you know who gave rise to the club's 'Baggies' nickname? Why Albion officials painted a match ball with gold and stuck a stuffed thrush on top? Or which club record Lateef Elford-Alliyu holds? All these stories and hundreds more appear in a brilliantly researched collection of trivia - essential for any Baggies fan who holds the riches of the club's history close to their heart.

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Book SynopsisSpurs On This Day revisits all the most magical and memorable moments from the club's glorious past, mixing in a maelstrom of quirky anecdotes and legendary characters to produce an irresistibly dippable diary of the club's history - with an entry for every day of the year. From their Victorian roots as Hotspur FC up to the Premier League era, Spurs fans have witnessed a unique FA Cup victory as a non-League side, League and Cup triumphs, hard-fought derbies and unforgettable European nights - all featured here. Timeless greats such as Glenn Hoddle and Danny Blanchflower, Dave Mackay, Jurgen Klinsmann and Bill Nicholson all loom larger than life. Revisit January 22, 2008 when Spurs beat Arsenal 5-1 in the Carling Cup semi-final. May 6, 1961 when Spurs became the 20th century's first Double winners. And July 13 2001, when Steffen Freund scored against Stevenage, his first and only Tottenham goal!

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Book SynopsisLeeds United Miscellany collects together all the vital information you never knew you needed to know about the Whites. In these pages you will find irresistible anecdotes and the most mindblowing stats and facts. Heard the one about David Harvey's suicidal monkey? How about the chairman who spent GBP240 on a goldfish for his office? Or the gypsy who urinated on Elland Road's corner flags to help Don Revie lift an ancient curse? Do you know when a Leeds side last wore sock tags? The fate of the orange kit worn once in 1970? Or how many miles of pipe make up the undersoil heating system at Elland Road? All these stories and hundreds more appear in a brilliantly researched collection of trivia - essential for any Leeds United fan who holds the riches of the club's history close to their heart. Featuring a foreword by Leeds legend Eddie Gray.

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Book SynopsisCeltic FC On This Day revisits all the most magical and memorable moments from the club's glorious past, mixing in a maelstrom of quirky anecdotes and legendary characters to produce an irresistibly dippable diary of Hoops history - with an entry for every day of the year. From humble yet proud origins, charitably assisting in feeding the poor of Glasgow's East End, the club is now a global institution with a worldwide following. Along the way, the green-and-white faithful have witnessed famous European exploits, record winning runs and attendances, countless triumphs on the Scottish scene and the one-off glories of all-British victories in 1902, 1938 and 1953 - all featured here. All-time greats including Jimmy Quinn, Patsy Gallacher and Jimmy McGrory, Billy McNeill, Kenny Dalglish and Henrik Larsson loom larger than life, appearing alongside all-conquering Celtic heroes such as Willie Maley, Jock Stein and Martin O'Neill.

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Book SynopsisIn 1968, Yorkshire County Cricket Club won a record 29th outright County Championship title. Blessed with the talents of Brian Close, Fred Trueman and Geoffrey Boycott, they dominated their opponents through sheer desire, skill and belief. It was a golden era for the club, and no one saw it coming to an end. But over the next few years, everything changed. Yorkshire's star players departed and their rivals benefited from the introduction of overseas professionals like Garry Sobers, Viv Richards and Clive Rice. As they decided only to hire those born within the county, Yorkshire struggled to compete with their contemporaries and became one of the worst-performing teams in the land. It was a dire time for the club. But when a young Sachin Tendulkar arrived at Headingley in April 1992, a revolution began. Through his talent and personality, Yorkshire's first overseas player modernised a failing institution and gained experience that helped him become the greatest international batsman of his generation. This is the story of how a promising 19-year-old became an Honorary Tyke... and, in the process, changed the history of England's most successful club.

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Book SynopsisFrom growing up in a warzone to befriending the greatest football manager in the history of the game, John White''s story is remarkable. Growing up in Northern Ireland in the 1970s was tough but the prospects for John, a Catholic raised in the Short Strand area of Belfast, were even more restricted. Hemmed in on all sides by Protestants and patrolled on a daily basis by British army forces, John and his neighbours soon learned to make light of the searches, patrols and threats of attack by neighbouring communities, even accepting regular interruptions to games of street football as a daily occurrence. Shining through the darkness was the one thing that united this intensely divided community. It all began with George Best, the pride of the province and hero to every schoolboy in his native Belfast. The greatest player in the world regularly turned out for the national team in the most infamous city in the world at the height of The Troubles and these were the first big football matches John watched as a child. From there it was logical to follow Manchester United''s fortunes and a lifelong romance was born as he joined the fortnightly exodus of Irishmen from both sides of the community to Old Trafford. Later, John founded a cross-community Supporters Club with the express aim of uniting Catholics and Protestants and their shared passion for United. It was in this role that he began hosting charity dinners in Belfast and befriending many United legends, foremost among them the Boss, Sir Alex Ferguson. It''s fair to say that John''s relationship with ''Fergie'' was at odds with his fi rebrand media persona. Ever willing to help Irish charities, Sir Alex was a regular at John''s events and eventually placed his trust in the Carryduff MUSC to help promote his own charity, The Elizabeth Hardie Ferguson Charitable Trust Fund, named after his late mother. Sir Alex became a regular visitor to John''s home in Carryduff and even visited John''s father''s regular haunt, the local bookmakers shop in the Short Strand. Following the 1997 Good Friday Agreement, much of the daily antagonism of the 1970s has disappeared from Belfast life but not all. As John reflects on his life in the city, he takes a realist''s view of the current situation in the Province.

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